Breast implants are made with a silicone shell that is filled with either saline or silicone gel. While the shell is flexible and durable, it can be punctured or rupture, allowing the saline or gel to leak out. When an implant ruptures, surgery is required to remove the implant and replace it if desired. Dr. Harry Salinas at HMS Plastic Surgery offers breast implant rupture repair surgery at our center in Miami, FL.
Breast implants are not meant to last a lifetime, and it is possible that they will rupture at some point if not proactively replaced. When saline implants rupture, it is very noticeable, as the water will leak out and the implant will deflate. The water is absorbed by the body and eliminated, but one breast will suddenly be much smaller than the other.
With silicone gel implants, ruptures are not as noticeable. The thick gel will leak out, but it will stay within the breast tissue. Some of the symptoms of a leaking silicone implant include:
- Breast pain
- Swelling
- Changes in breast shape/size
- Breast firmness
A silicone implant can rupture without any symptoms, which is called a silent rupture. Patients with silicone implants should receive an MRI every three years to ensure their implants are not leaking. This can proactively identify a silent rupture to prevent complications like capsular contracture from the leaking silicone gel.
Breast Implant Replacement
When you have a leaking breast implant, correction surgery can be performed to remove the damaged implant. For many patients, this is a chance to determine whether they want to change implant types, sizes or shapes. Dr. Salinas meets with each patient to discuss the possible options for replacing their damaged implant. Even if the other implant is still whole, it is usually recommended to replace both implants during the repair surgery.
If you have symptoms of a ruptured breast implant, contact our team at HMS Plastic Surgery. We can schedule a consultation with Dr. Salinas to discuss breast implant rupture repair surgery at our center in Miami, FL. Call today to book your appointment or contact us through our website.